# First Gas > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/First_Gas > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/First_Gas.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Gas > Source revision: 1346139003 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Natural gas transmission and distribution company First Gas Limited Formerly NGC, Vector Gas Industry Natural gas transmission and distribution Headquarters New Plymouth , New Zealand Key people Mark Ratcliffe (chair) Brands Firstgas Number of employees 130 Website firstgas.co.nz **First Gas Limited** is a [natural gas](/source/Natural_gas) transmission and distribution company in [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand). First Gas's network has 2,517 km (1,564 mi) of high pressure pipelines transmitting gas across the [North Island](/source/North_Island), and 4,996 km (3,104 mi) of gas distribution pipelines in [Northland](/source/Northland_Region), [Waikato](/source/Waikato), [Bay of Plenty](/source/Bay_of_Plenty), [Gisborne](/source/Gisborne%2C_New_Zealand), and the [Kapiti Coast](/source/K%C4%81piti_Coast_District).[1] Through Flex Gas, First Gas owns and operates the [Ahuroa Gas Storage Facility](/source/Ahuroa_Gas_Storage_Facility). ## History The Natural Gas Corporation (NGC) was established by the New Zealand government to buy, process, and wholesale natural gas from the [Kapuni](/source/Kapuni) gas field, which was discovered in 1959.[2] NGC built the first high pressure gas transmission lines in the late 1960s, initially supplying Kapuni gas to Auckland, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, and Wellington. The network was expanded through the 1970s and 1980s, supporting the major growth of the oil and gas industry at that time.[3] NGC was privatised in 1992.[2] The [Australian Gas Light (AGL)](/source/Australian_Gas_Light_Company) sold NGC to [Vector Limited](/source/Vector_Limited) in 2004 and 2005. In 2016, Vector sold its entire transmission business, along with its gas distribution networks outside Auckland, to First State Funds. The new owner established First Gas Limited to operate these assets.[4] The Māui pipeline, constructed separately in the 1970s, was owned by Māui Development Ltd and operated independently of NGC/Vector. In 2016, First Gas purchased the Maui natural gas pipeline from Maui Development for $335 million. At that time, ownership of Maui Development was between Shell (84%), OMV NZ (10%) and [Todd Energy](/source/Todd_Corporation) (6%).[5] In 2017, First Gas purchased the [Ahuroa Gas Storage Facility](/source/Ahuroa_Gas_Storage_Facility) from [Contact Energy](/source/Contact_Energy). ## Transmission The First Gas transmission network comprises 2,517 kilometres (1,564 mi) of high-pressure pipelines that transport natural gas from fields in Taranaki to destinations across the North Island. In the year to 30 September 2024, the system transmitted 116,125 TJ of natural gas.[6] Gas is supplied either directly to large consumers, such as the [Huntly Power Station](/source/Huntly_Power_Station) and [Methanex](/source/Methanex), or to distribution networks operated by First Gas Distribution, Vector, [Powerco](/source/Powerco), and GasNet for delivery to mass-market consumers. The transmission network has two major systems: the Kapuni system and the Māui system.[7] ### Kapuni system The core Kapuni system was established in 1970 with two major pipelines originating from the Kapuni Gas Treatment Plant in South Taranaki: one running north towards Auckland and the other south towards Wellington. The system was expanded in the early 1980s with three major extensions: north from Auckland to [Whangārei](/source/Whang%C4%81rei); east from the northern pipeline at [Pokuru](/source/Pokuru) (southwest of [Te Awamutu](/source/Te_Awamutu)) to [Tauranga](/source/Tauranga), [Kawerau](/source/Kawerau) and [Gisborne](/source/Gisborne%2C_New_Zealand); and east from the southern pipeline near Palmerston North to [Hastings](/source/Hastings). In normal operation, the Kapuni system is divided into two subsystems by closing a mainline valve south of Pokuru. Gas supply to the northern half of the system is usually provided via the Māui system. ### Māui system Map of the main Māui pipeline The Māui system was established in 1979 to transport gas from the Māui gas field. Its main pipeline is 302 kilometres (188 mi) long, running from the Oaonui Production Station near Ōpunake to the Huntly Power Station. In the year to 30 September 2024, the Māui system transported 93,542 TJ of gas, representing 81% of the total transmitted.[5][6] A major branch, the Frankley Road sub-system, connects the Māui pipeline at Frankley Road offtake station (southwest of New Plymouth) to the [Stratford Power Station](/source/Stratford_Power_Station) and the southern Kapuni system at the Kapuni Gas Treatment Plant. The Māui system also has interconnections with the northern Kapuni system at Pokuru and at [Rotowaro](/source/Rotowaro), west of Huntly. Unlike the Kapuni system, which distributes odourised gas, the Māui system transports unodourised gas, as odourants such as [mercaptan](/source/Ethyl_mercaptan) can interfere with some industrial processes. Odourant is instead added at delivery points, or at interconnection stations (Kapuni, Pokuru, and Rotowaro) where Māui gas enters the Kapuni system.[7] ### Major pipelines Major natural gas pipelines in New Zealand[8] Ref. Diameter Length Origin Destination Year built Note 100 200 mm (8 in) 253 km (157 mi) Kapuni Gas Treatment Plant Waitangirua delivery point 1968 200 200 mm (8 in) 344 km (214 mi) Kapuni Gas Treatment Plant Papakura delivery point 1968 300 500 mm (20 in) 47 km (29 mi) 400 pipeline at Frankley Road offtake station Kapuni Gas Treatment Plant 1974 400 & 403 750 mm (30 in) 302 km (188 mi) Oaonui Production Station Huntly Power Station 1977 Māui pipeline 400B 350 mm (14 in) 90 km (56 mi) 400 pipeline at Rotowaro compression station Westfield delivery point 1981 430 150 mm (6 in) 185 km (115 mi) 400B pipeline at Westfield delivery point Maungatapere delivery point 1982 500 200 mm (8 in) 182 km (113 mi) 200 and 400 pipelines at Pokuru compression station Kawerau delivery point 1980–82 505 100 mm (4 in) 201 km (125 mi) 500 pipeline at Kawerau compression station Gisborne delivery point 1984 700 & 113 200 mm (8 in) 183 km (114 mi) 100 pipeline at Himatangi offtake station Hastings delivery point 1980–82 800 100 mm (4 in) 88 km (55 mi) 500 pipeline at Lichfield offtake station Te Puke delivery point 1980 ## Distribution First Gas owns and operates the natural gas distribution networks in [Northland](/source/Northland_Region), [Waikato](/source/Waikato), [Bay of Plenty](/source/Bay_of_Plenty), [Gisborne](/source/Gisborne%2C_New_Zealand), and the [Kapiti Coast](/source/K%C4%81piti_Coast_District).[9] These networks convey gas from transmission delivery points to mass-market consumers—including households, businesses, and small industries—through a mix of low-, medium-, and intermediate-pressure pipelines. ### Statistics First Gas Limited gas distribution network statistics for the year ending 30 September 2024[10] Parameter Value Regulatory asset base $220 million Line charge revenue $34.8 million Capital expenditure $7.4 million Operating expenditure $12.5 million Customer connections 67,994 Total gas conveyed 9,096 TJ Maximum daily load 34.0 TJ System length 4,996 km ## See also - [Oil and gas industry in New Zealand](/source/Oil_and_gas_industry_in_New_Zealand) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["About Us"](http://firstgas.co.nz/about-us/). First Gas. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-GANZ_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-GANZ_2-1) ["History of Natural Gas in NZ"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160617062941/http://www.ganz.org.nz/history). Gas Association of New Zealand. Archived from [the original](http://www.ganz.org.nz/history) on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Gregg, Roger; Walrond, Carl (13 July 2012). ["The Maui Gas Field"](https://www.teara.govt.nz/en/oil-and-gas/page-5). *Oil and Gas*. Te Ara – Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Completion of Vector Gas Ltd Purchase by First State Funds"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160524042232/http://firstgas.co.nz/media-release/completion-vector-gas-ltd-purchase-first-state-funds/) (Press release). Firstgas. 20 April 2016. Archived from [the original](http://firstgas.co.nz/media-release/completion-vector-gas-ltd-purchase-first-state-funds/) on 24 May 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_5-1) Raj, Audrey (15 June 2016). ["Shell seals Maui pipeline sale"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160806111929/http://www.aogdigital.com/regions/item/5888-shell-seals-maui-pipeline-sale). Asian Oil & Gas. Archived from [the original](http://www.aogdigital.com/regions/item/5888-shell-seals-maui-pipeline-sale) on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_6-1) ["Information disclosure for the gas transmission business - Year ending 30 September 2024"](https://cms.firstgas.co.nz/assets/Uploads/Transmission-PDFs/Gas-Transmission-Information-Disclosure-2024.pdf) (PDF). First Gas. Retrieved 23 August 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_7-1) ["Network maps"](https://firstgas.co.nz/our-network/network-maps). *firstgas.co.nz*. Retrieved 24 July 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["First Gas Gas Transmission Asset Management Plan 2023 - Appendicies"](https://cms.firstgas.co.nz/assets/Uploads/Transmission-PDFs/AMP/Gas-Transmission-Asset-Management-Plan-2023-Appendicies.pdf) (PDF). *firstgas.co.nz*. 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Our Network | Transmission And Distribution | Firstgas"](https://firstgas.co.nz/our-network). *firstgas.co.nz*. Retrieved 24 July 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Performance summaries for gas distributors"](https://www.comcom.govt.nz/regulated-industries/gas-pipelines/gas-pipelines-performance-and-data/performance-summaries-for-gas-distributors/). *Commerce Commission*. Retrieved 6 October 2025. ## External links - [Official website](http://firstgas.co.nz) v t e New Plymouth District, New Zealand Seat: New Plymouth Central Populated places North Ward Waitara C.B. Huirangi Lepperton Waitara Clifton C.B. Ahititi Mimi Motunui Onaero Tikorangi Tongapōrutu Urenui Uruti Kōhanga Moa Ward Inglewood C.B. Egmont Village SW Hillsborough NPC Hurworth SW Inglewood SW Kaimata SW Norfolk SW Purangi SW Ratapiko SW Waitoriki SW Kaitake-Ngāmotu Ward Kaitake C.B. Ōkato SW Ōakura SW Omata SW Tataraimaka SW Puketapa-Bell Block C.B. Bell Block NPC Paraite NPC New Plymouth City Proper nonCB Blagdon NPC Brooklands NPC East End NPC Ferndale NPC Fitzroy NPC Frankleigh Park NPC Glen Avon NPC Highlands Park NPC Hurdon NPC Lynmouth NPC Mangorei NPC Marfell NPC Merrilands NPC Moturoa NPC New Plymouth C.B.D. NPC Ridgewood NPC Spotswood NPC Strandon NPC Vogeltown NPC Waiwhakaiho NPC Welbourn Westown NPC Whalers Gate NPC Geographic features Moturoa Sugar Loaf Islands North Taranaki Bight Facilities and attractions Bell Block Aerodrome Bertrand Road suspension bridge Festival of Lights G-TARanaki Guitar Festival Govett-Brewster Art Gallery Holy Trinity Church, New Plymouth McKee field McKee power station New Plymouth Airport New Plymouth Coastal Walkway New Plymouth Power Station Parininihi Marine Reserve Port Taranaki Public transport Puke Ariki Pukeiti Pukekura Park Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Reserve Area Taranaki Cathedral Te Henui Cemetery Te Rewa Rewa Bridge TSB Stadium Tapuae Marine Reserve Tūpare garden Wind Wand Yarrow Stadium Government District Council Mayor Regional Council Organisations Coastal Taranaki School Energy FM First Gas Francis Douglas Memorial College New Plymouth Boys' High School New Plymouth Girls' High School Radio Taranaki Sacred Heart Girls' College Spotswood College Taranaki Daily News Taranaki Herald Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki SW – locality that was formerly part of the defunct South-West Ward until 2022; NPC – locality that was formerly part of the defunct New Plymouth City Ward until 2022; nonCB – area not within a community board --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [First Gas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Gas) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Gas?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.